Connector for electric cables and the like



Sept. 7, 1948. v. D. BURKE CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC CABLES AND THE LIKEFiled March 19, 1947 Patented Sept. 7, 1948 CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRICCABLES AND THE LIKE Vincent D. Burke, South Haven, Mich, assignor toAbbott-Becker Distributing & Manufacturing, Kalamazoo, Mich., apartnership Application March 19, 1947, Serial No. 735,762

This invention relates to a connector for electric cables and the like.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a connector for electric cables such for example asbattery cables, which may be readily mounted on a motor housingtoprovide an efiective electrical connection for the cable to a postconstituting an element of the connector, and one in which the parts maybe quickly assembled in installation and may be later disassembled inthe event it is desirable to renew the cable or in the event ofcorrosion or other deterioration or injury to the parts.

Second, to provide a structure having these advantages which is simpleand economical in its parts and one which may be manipulated by arelatively unskilled person.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined in the claims.

A structure which embodies the features of the invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary view of the housing of a motor such as thestarting motor of a motor vehicle, with a connector embodying myinvention mounted thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a disassembled or exploded view of the parts of my connector,the post element being shown by dotted lines inasmuch as that element asillustrated is of a type in commercial use.

In the accompanying drawing the motor housing l is shown mainlyconventionally and is provided with a side opening 2 adapted to receivethe connector post 3 with the insulating elements 4 and 5 arrangedthereon. These insulating elements have reduced portions 6 and Irespectively fitting within the opening 2. The post 3 is provided with aflange 8 in supporting engagement with the inner insulating member 6,the post projecting beyond the flange and longitudinally slotted at 9 toreceive the motor feed circuit wire In which is soldered into the slotas indicated at II.

The post is externally threaded at l2 and the internally threaded sleeve13 is threaded thereon and provided with a head I4 at its inner endabutting and clampingly engaging the outer insulation element 5. Thishead M- is adapted to receive a wrench, being in the form of a hexagonin the structure illustrated. The head has an outwardly facing conicalshoulder I5 and the sleeve is longitudinally slotted at IS, the slot 5Claims. (Cl. 1"14153) 2 extending through the head and into the threadedstem portion of the sleeve. The sleeve clamping nut I! has a conicalrecess l8 at its inner end coacting with the conical shoulder to clampthe sleeve in its adjusted position on the post.

The battery or supply cable [-9 is provided with a terminal 26 having'asleeve engaging hole therein. The second nut 2| is threaded upon thesleeve at the outer side of the terminal, clamping the terminal againstthe sleeve clamping nut. This nut 2| alsoconstitutes a lock nut for thesleeve clamping nut, which is a feature of considerable importanceinasmuch as when these parts are mounted on a starter of a' motorvehicle they are frequently subjected to severe vibration. The cable 19in such an installation is commonly a battery cable and the partsfrequently become severely corroded, often requiring replacement.

This invention not only enables quick and secure connection of the cablel9 to the connector .post 3 but in the event they become corroded orotherwise damaged they may be readily replaced. The sleeve may beadjusted to effectively engage the post, even after the threads of thepost have become considerably damaged. The head of the sleeve isdesigned to receive a wrench so that it may be clamped against theinsulating members and may be held while the sleeve clamping nut isbeing tightened or loosened, as the case may be.

I have illustrated and described a simple and highly practicalembodiment of the invention. I have not illustrated certain otherembodiments and adaptations which may be desirable for particularinstallations as it is believed this disclosure will enable thoseskilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: l

l. A connector for electric cables comprising a threaded post providedwith a flange at its inner end adapted to engage insulation arranged onthe .post, an internally threaded sleeve threaded upon the post andhaving a head at its inner end adapted to engage insulation and adaptedto receive a Wrench, the outer end of said sleeve being externallythreaded, there being a conical shoulder at the inner end of thethreads, said sleeve having a longitudinal slot extending from its innerend through the head and into its threaded portion but terminatingsubstantially short of the outer end of said sleeve, a sleeve clampingnut threaded upon the sleeve to cover said slot and internally beveledto coact with said conical shoulder, and a second nut threaded upon saidsleeve and adapted to clamp a cable terminal against said sleeveclamping nut and to constitute a lockanut thereforn 2. A connector ofthe: class describedcomprising a threaded post, an internally threadedsleeve threaded upon said post and having a head.

at its inner end adapted to receive a wrench and an outwardly facingconicalshoulder atl theouter side of the head, said sleeve having alongitudinal slot extending from its inner endlthrough the head andoutwardly beyond its. said shoulder, the outer end of said sleeve beingexternally threaded, a sleeve clamping nut threaded upon the sleeve andinternally beveled to coact with the conical shoulder for clamping thesleeveinits adjusted positions on the post, and a second terminalclampinglnut threaded upon the sleeve aridconstituting a lock nut for.said s l-eevea'clam-pinginuth 3'; A-connector of the class'describe'dcomprising, a threaded post, an. internally threaded sleeve threadedupon said post and having a shoulder, said sleeve having, a longitudinalslot extending from its inner end through said shoulder; the outer endof said sleeve being externally threaded} a sleeve clamping nutlthreaded upon the sleeve and recessed to receive said? shoulderforqclamping the sleeve in itstadjustedipositions on the post, andiasecond terminal clampingznutl threaded. upon the sleeve.

J 4. .A connectorior electricv cables and. the like comprising athreaded post, an internally having a longitudinal slot extending fromits inner end and pro-vided with a shoulder, a sleeve clamping nut.threaded upon the sleeve to coact with said shoulder for clamping thesleeve in its adjusted positions on the post, and a second terminalclamping nut threaded upon said sleeve .to clamp a terminal against saidsleeve clamping nut.

- D. REFERENCES CITED;

.The following,referencesareof record in the file of. this patent:

UNITED: STATES; PATENTS Number Name Date 190,585 McCormick 1J-an;'24',1893; 889,319 Martin i- June 2; 1908 89 7279 'Fessenden Sept; 1; 1'9083380;034 Watrous d. Dec. 27, 1910 1,941,397 Grier, Dec. 26; 1933'219L201 Kass "Feb. 20, 1940 2,304,334 Boucheret al Dec: 8; 1942

